WNC wellness review: YWCA makes its fundraising goal

“The YWCA exceeded its fundraising goal to save the popular Diabetes Wellness Program with $26,110 raised in all. […] Today was the last chance to save the YWCA’s Diabetes Wellness Program, which had to raise $25,000 by the end of the day to continue operating at current capacity. One set of donors agreed to give $100 for every new membership to the Club W fitness center through the end of the day.” – [Asheville Citizen-Times]

“Effective July 1: Prenatal Care services will no longer be offered at Buncombe County Department of Health; however, the Department of Health will continue to provide support services for pregnant women and children, and will continue to be responsible for assuring access to prenatal care services. […] Effective July 12: STD Services (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) will be joining other Clinical Services at 53 S. French Broad Ave in downtown Asheville.” – [MX Blogwire]

“Jay Kirby is the new president and CEO at Pardee Hospital… and it was announced this week that he’ll begin his duties at Pardee on July 20th. Kirby has widespread experience in health care in this Western Carolinas, having served hospitals in Western North Carolina and most recently he served in an executive position at Self Regional Health system in Greenwood, South Carolina.” – [WHKP]

“Dr. Peggy Noel, geriatrician and founder of MemoryCare of Asheville, said that while evidence has not yet proved that staying intellectually engaged can stop the development of dementia or Alzheimer’s, it can help manage — and possibly even prevent — some of the most debilitating symptoms.” – [Asheville Citizen-Times]

“The number of adults with diabetes has doubled world-wide over the last three decades to nearly 350 million and increased nearly threefold in the U.S., a sign that the epidemic will impose an ever-greater cost burden on health systems. The latest calculation, based on a study published in the British journal Lancet, found that the number of adult diabetics jumped to 347 million from 153 million in 1980.” – [Wall Street Journal]

“Haywood County officials have scheduled two rabies clinics for the coming week following a number of confirmed cases in the county recently. Four rabies cases in animals have already been confirmed this year, the latest last Wednesday when family members in the Canton area discovered a skunk in their barn, exhibiting unusual behavior. According to the incident report, the skunk was off balance and falling down. The skunk was killed and sent to the NC Department of Health and Human Services laboratory, where it tested positive. ” – [Asheville Citizen-Times]

“Over the past 30 years U.S. adults have been eating larger portions and eating more often, according to a new study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers. The findings help illustrate that how Americans are eating contributes to the country’s obesity epidemic.” – [UNC News]

“Fires in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Dare and Hyde counties, the Holly Shelter Game Land in Pender County, and southeast Georgia are affecting some coastal communities with smoke that could contain high levels of particle pollution. ” – [Asheville Citizen-Times]